Last year Pope Benedict XVI designated the year as the Year of St. Paul, and we held special events and observances to honor him and study his teachings.  This year, beginning with the Feast of the Sacred Heart last June, our Holy Father has asked that we observe the Year of the Priest, both to instruct the faithful about the goodness of Priesthood and remind us of the power ministry both in the ministerial priesthood of Holy Orders as well as the shared work of charity in the common priesthood of all the faithful. 

  (Fr. Korpi, Parochial Vicar)

It will be a special time for all of us to consider vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life, as well as consider the ways in which we might, ourselves, answer the call of Christ for evangelization and conversion in our world.

Is Summer the end of the year?  Or the beginning of a new year?  When we were in school it was that in-between time, I guess, when school was out and you could run the risk of forgetting everything you learned in the past year.  It was just “time off.”  Now, it starts later and ends earlier than ever before.  And I’m not sure if there is such a thing as time “off,” really.

Our committees are about to begin meetings again for the coming year, so I guess you could see it as a beginning.  Ready, set, go.  If we ever stopped, it was just for a blink.  We’re gearing up for fall and another rich liturgical cycle of seasons, celebrations, parish events and projects.

We still have welcome meetings for new parishioners and registrations every fourth Sunday (June 28, July 26) at 11:30am in the Church.  For all you who are new to the parish, welcome.

After saying goodbye to Fr. McGraw the weekend of June 27th, we will welcome our new parochial vicar, Fr. Bjorn Lundberg who move in July 1.  Come meet him at receptions the weekend of July 12.

Otherwise, I’m committed to keeping the calendar better up-do-date (the calendar at right) so you can know what is going on.  Just click on “Calendar” at the top of the page and it will take you to a complete list of parish activities and meetings which will be ongoing (though not as frequently) during the Summer.

Above all, please come see us.  I’m around all Summer, except for a conference July 6-10.  Don’t fall back on the great spiritual work you’ve done this year, allow it to ripen this Summer.  Think about how you would like to get involved in the life of this great parish.  And God bless you and keep you safe.

This past weekend we gathered the entire weekend around Masses to celebrate as well the many ministries of St. Mary, with a fair outside the Activity Center.  Everyone had the chance to speak, at leisure, with representatives of parish groups, committees and ministries and parish-affiliated groups. 

Packets were sent out in the mail to all parishioners this month, as well as our newest newsletter which will become a monthly communication to all registered families of St. Mary, in the hopes that we might have better communication!  Unfortunately, it seems, the Postal Service was really late and many pieces never arrived (no wonder we’ve gone to email!!) so I’m attaching the document links here.

If you didn’t receive the following pieces, please click on the name and print them out.

We’ll be collecting the Commitment Cards at all Masses on the weekend of September 27/28. 

Cover Letter
Stewardship Renewal Booklet
Ministry Catalogue
Commitment Card